Foundation of Brtish Foreign Cb by Lillian M. Penson H.W.V. Temperley

Author:Lillian M. Penson, H.W.V. Temperley [Lillian M. Penson, H.W.V. Temperley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General, Political Science
ISBN: 9781136244919
Google: YdDFBQAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2012-12-06T01:17:22+00:00

XV. PALMERSTON AND RUSSELL

GENERAL QUESTIONS; DEFENCE; THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR; ARBITRATION; SLAVERY

35. PALMERSTON AND RUSSELL; THE LAST PHASE

[Palmerston came to his last period of office with thirty years of diplomatic triumph behind him. He had never had such popularity before. Russell, one of his most formidable political rivals, was now his friend, colleague and supporter. Yet a few years of partnership between the old rivals destroyed the reputation of both. Palmerston’s death came at the time that his foreign policy was deeply discredited. Russell, who succeeded him as Premier, could not keep either the Cabinet or the new Foreign Minister in the old ways. His failure shewed that Palmerston’s death had ended an epoch in foreign policy.

This singular pair were thus criticized by Count Apponyi, the Austrian Minister. He thought “reserve inherent in his [Russell’s] nature and perhaps in the tradition of the Foreign Office”. “The difficulty of getting an answer from Lord Russell is proverbial in the diplomatic corps.” For the rest, he was “indolent and guided by agents”.* Towards Palmerston he was more favourable. Russell was unwilling to state his opinion at once, Palmerston was quick, open, decisive and frank. Few Prime Ministers have ever had as much direct concern with the Foreign Office as Palmerston had on this occasion. Russell sent him not only foreign diplomats, but draft dispatches, in profuse abundance. Both benefited by their contact with the higher authority. Palmerston not only cut and altered drafts galore, but exercised great freedom of criticism. “I have great Doubts as to the expediency of such a Despatch as this. It would make a good leading article in an irresponsible newspaper, but is hardly of the character of a government Despatch.”† Thus the octogenarian to the septuagenarian, and the reproof seems in no way to have disturbed their friendly relations. The criticism applied to both of them. For it was the irresponsibility of these old men which betrayed them.

Palmerston’s diplomatic experience was immense. Poland, Schleswig-Holstein, Latin America and France hid few secrets from him. In one respect alone was Russell superior. His wife’s influence and her extensive knowledge of political refugees proved a better source of information to him about Italy than any official dispatches. And in Italy, curiously enough, the one undisputed success of the period was won. Russell, with much less of Palmerston’s knowledge, had most of his defects. He had the same love of sharp retorts, the same propensity to lecture, the same irritating air of superiority. He had a little less courage but an even more restless and interfering disposition. He had none of his occasional breadth of view and largeness of mind. Palmerston actually encouraged Russell to become a kind of living caricature of himself. For he was quite blind to his own defects when they appeared in another.

Both men were living in a new age and handling weapons they did not understand. Their physical vigour was still great, but their mental arteries had hardened. Each of them had once been the master of England’s, perhaps even of Europe’s, policy.

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